Entertainment

I've just been listening to Ross Raisin's God's Own Country on Radio 4 Book At Bedtime - it's so well read - http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00cqhhl - strangely funny. I would definitely recommend it. Also over on Radio 4 you can listen to a couple of Etgar Keret's short stories - http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00cs8lv. He's one of my favourite short story writers. I'm currently writing a short story with the characters from Wacky Races in it, so this has been a great help - http://www.dan-dare.org/Dan%20FRD/WackyRacesCarsAndDrivers.htm And to get me in the surreal mood for such a story I've been re-reading Murakami's After the Quake - "Katagiri found a giant frog waiting for him in his apartment." I recently bought Gary Newman's Greatest Hits so I'm listening to that. And also some Japan - David Sylvian has an ace voice.

Hello Ben, long time no see. I've got my second set of Czech visitors in a month, so I have been using my senses mostly for sniffing and drinking wine (when I'm not working. New job). Reading has been snatched here and there, currently Zusak's The Book Thief. I'm enjoying it, though I don't think my children would (it's supposedly a childrens book. We'll see). I wanted to read Drew's Me and Mickie James, but my dad snatched it out of my hands when I showed it to him, and is devouring it currently. He loves it. Musically, I'm discovering Fink and Seth Lakeman. I'm doing so much driving up and down to Leicester (urk) that there is mainly R4 playing, to stop me sleeping. Film? Haven't seen anything new for ages. Went to the comedy club instead of the cinema on Saturday where I saw two excellent comedians and one shit one. I watched series one and two of extras the other night though. The outtakes are the funniest. Strange how the series got sadder and sadder with every episode. Drinking - tea. Eating - cheddar on toast with mint jelly. Nice to see you. Fatherhood great?

Gary Numan! I mean...

I bought a teeshirt when I was 15 with Gary Newman on it. I knew it was spelled wrong, but I was so keen to be in the club. Bleurgh!

Okay. For me, Saramago Is second only to Kundera as living authors go (I just wiki'd him just to make sure he's still alive - yup...b. 1922). I don't think I'll see this Batman. Not a fan of CB - he's got a funny mouth or teeth or something. When did Batman become so dark? I guess dark sells because its doing quite good. But I've steadily been catching up on the films of Visconti, Pasolini, De Sica, and Antonioni - just amazing, these directors. Antonioni's film Blowup (1966), set in London, is one of the most amazing works of art I've ever seen. Not familiar with the music you mentioned. There's lots of new and good stuff coming out and I'm missing all of it. All of it, I say. I've not yet picked up Drew's book, but I found Joe's in NYC - really enjoying it. Also reading some stuff by Elio Vittorini, if anyone's heard of him. Otherwise, it's hot in Philly. Real hot. Work's crazy - today I heard we may be taken over, but these things are always flying around. Oh, going biking for a week in Vermont next month - I need a vacation. Pass the cookies, please.

Liana - the drummer from Fink wrote a really nice review of Me and Mickie James over on Amazon. How cool is that! They are a great band. Foster, I was thinking of Antonioni's Blowup the other week as I had my photograph taken in the centre of this big park. I thought I was going to disappear. I wasn't keen on the first of the new Batman films but I'm hearing good things about the new one. So maybe I'll give it a whirl. I want to go see Wall-E (is that right?) but no takers to go with me so I'll probably go on my own. I'm five minutes walk from a cinema. I haven't seen any good films for a while. I want to see Be Kind Rewind. Anyone seen it? I love the director Michel Gondry. (I've mentioned Science of Sleep before - and the extras on the dvd are good. i.e. a documentary about a man building a town out of toilet rolls.) And I've just listened to the third episode of God's Own Country. I love it!

*shakes Ben's empty plate* Oh darn, now I’m hankering for a cookie... I saw Batman with eldest daughter the other day whilst Dave watched Kung Foo Panda with Youngest (we spoofed for it). Kung Foo Panda was purgatory, apparently – Dave’s still not over it, he came home and watched The Incredibles just to prove that adult/child humour could be done. Batman’s not usually my cup of tea but the Joker was genuinely good – didn’t overplay the humour, so when it came along it was doubly effective (Ben… How many friends?… Six… 6?). Finally read One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest on holiday. Fantastic read! Unusually, for once I think the screenplay did the novel justice. I can’t see how they could have portrayed it better. Haven’t had a chance to read anything since I’ve been back – but I’ve got Me and Mickie James packed in my hand-luggage all ready for train trip to Scotland tomorrow. That reminds me, I should be in bed… tired and cookie-less. ~ www.fabulousmother.co.uk

Lou, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is my favorite book/movie combination. Drew, is your book available over here?

Foster, should be available on amazon.com. No American release as yet, although it will be out in Canada and Australia next week. I agree - One Flew Over the Cuckoo Nest - both film and book great. And last night in bed I read some Muriel Spark short stories. Very good!

Having clocked up a Yeti sized carbon footprint with 7 flights totalling almost 50 hours in July, I watched lots of films on the in flight entertainment systems. I watched 'The Orphanage' 'I am Legend' 'Run Fat Boy Run' and many other new(ish) releases that were watchable but not really notable. I also watched 'Ben Hur' which at 3.5 hours seemed like a good selection for a long-haul flight and ended up in 'They don't make 'em like that any more' mode! I also had the early 1990s BBC adaptations of 3 Ruth Rendell novels (Fatal Inversion, Gallowglass and A Dark Inverted Eye) to watch on my laptop and these were great. Books - I read Microtrends by Mark Penn and am getting stuck into Drew's M&MJ now! In terms of indulging my senses I am really looking forward to the Tate Modern's Mark Rothko exhibition which opens in September jude

Oh and speaking of music etc today there is an article by me on Gardarnation - http://gaydarnation.com/UserPortal/Article/Detail.aspx?ID=21363&sid=1 'My Life in Gay Music'. (With a picture of me taken at the Marillion convention!) Jude, I remember those BBC Ruth Rendell adaptations. Which is the one in the country house with the baby buried in the woods? 'The Orphanage' is the Guillermo (no idea how to spell that) Del Torro film, isn't it? I loved Pan's Labyrinth. Drew

Sorry, I've gone a bit link mad - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPCeA5Vl29k This is for a Fink song - This is the Thing. As recommended by me and Liana.

Drew, that one is called 'A Fatal Inversion' and is the best of the three. Ruth Rendell's murder mysteries are great because you always know from the outset who the killer is. The suspense is in the 'why' and in the case of A Fatal Inversion, the suspense in also in the identity of the victim. The Orphanage is the Guillermo (spelled correctly I think!) Del torro film that was screened at Cannes last year. It was watchable but a little too predictable. jude "Cacoethes scribendi" http://www.judesworld.net

Agree about The Orphange, which is a shame because I expected a much better movie. Del Toro was associated with the film, but he didn't direct. I can't recall who did.

Currently reading Ayn Rand's "The Fountainhead". Good but not as good as "Atlas Shrugged". Does anybody read Ayn Rand anymore? The woman's a flaming genius.

I have been mostly listening to folk and country music (after going to a folk festival in Leicester in June): Seth Lakeman, Cara Dillon, Devon Sproule. And Tom Waits (saw Tom Waits in Edinburgh last weekend and was fantastic). I read Darkmans by Nicola Barker and it was bloody fantastic, will read Drew's book next, then back to the long but enjoyable slog through Don Quixote. Have watched lots of movies recently but few of them were very good. Enjoyed Waitress a lot. Trying to persuade the girlfriend to see Batman. Will catch a train back from Scotland in a few hours so might see 2Lou flash past in the other direction.

i've just finished reading The End of Mr. Y by Scarlett Thomas which is a 400 page version of talking to Maddan about all those things such as multiple universes and whathaveyou but with some dirty sex thrown in - i did read it obsessively and it led to sleepless nights in more than one way ... I'm also reading Ann Enright's booker prize winner The Gathering which has breathtaking writing - the sort that makes you stamp your foot - but gets no points for being a nice upbeat holiday read - it is very very bleak and beautiful. Film wise i've recently seen Wall-E which was sweet and entertaining but bulged in the middle - and Hancock which i enjoyed a lot all the way through ... these are film choices dictated by always going to the pictures with a teenager - i've had to swerve hard to avoid the second Narnia film after being bored to death by the first one. I've recently watched Waitress with high hopes and was terribly disappointed - and will definitely be seeing the Batman film but with a bit of sadness about Heath Ledger. A week on holiday at my mother's yielded The Spiderwick Chronicles and National Treasure 2. Lawks. Mainly I have been made to listen to Radio 1 (kids home for summer and wrecking my blessed silence) and have developed an abiding dislike for both Jo Wiley and Scott Mills. Telly wise i have been sucked in yet again by Big Brother - again the effect of the pernicious teenager (also responsible for me knowing who's who on Hollyoaks and actually being very slightly upset when Max bought it) I'm slightly ashamed about my trashy telly tastes - I watch Eastenders and Holby City - and absolutely baffled by how rotten Bonekickers has turned out to be. Writing this has made me realise how much I squander my senses on rubbish and call it relaxation - and also how much of my senses are invaded by other people in the name of compromise and how I don't actually mind. Thanks Ben. x

'Does anybody read Ayn Rand anymore'? Yes, ever since the political Compass Quiz placed me right next to her in the economically right, libertarian quadrant. However in the past few years I have moved away from supporting the kind of Laissez-faire capitalism that Rand advocated and am now moving towards supporting a more Keynesian Mixed Economy. I still agree with the majority of Rand's writings on individual rights which are very Lockean. Agree, 'Atlas Shrugged' is better! There was a film made about her with Helen Mirren in the lead. Does anyone know if it's worth watching? jude "Cacoethes scribendi" http://www.judesworld.net

Jude, Ayn Rand is an finely acquired taste. I much enjoyed all of her works and find them relevant today, albeit the need for contemporary references. Taking her work in context, when Soviet style socialism was all the rage, you appreciate even more what she was trying to say.The Fall of the Soviet Union is elequent testimony to her commentary. In essence, Hegel's commentary, offering thesis vs antithesis= synthesis, is phrophetic. There is an element of Darwinian Socialism in Rand's works that troubles me. I have always believed that we need to reach down and give others a hand, like we ourselves were helped.It is a defining characteristic that makes us better than the beasts of the jungle. I think Rand might have even agreed with a softer version of her philosophy were not the then opposing maxims not so well defined and predatory. On a simpler level, I think Rand is a good story teller. Her works make for a fine read in and of themselves. Her whole "Lost Horizon" metaphor is an enchanting thought even today. Would that there were a place like this "somewhere over the rainbow." That is where we would all like to be. J.X.M

Without fail, according to those I've talked to, whichever is read first - The Fountainhead or Atlas Shrugged - is considered the favorite. I read TF first and I liked it a lot better than AS. Agree with JXM - philosophy aside, she's a good writer. A bit windy at times, wordy, but still good. The Orphanage: Directed by Bayona; "presented" (whatever that means) by del Toro.

"presented" = "percentage"

I just got back from watching The Dark Knight with the kids and am feeling disturbed by it.

And I watched Frantic last night, and am now listening to Grace Jones. She is so fab... And the Verve have a new single out tomorrow. And I listened to League of Gentlemen on the radio last night too. 'You're big and you're a woman and I love you babes.' - 'Babes, you didn't ring. Are you big? Are you a woman? I love you babes.' And I was in the Guardian today!!!

Cor blimey, lots has gone on here. Hello all. "... a 400 page version of talking to Maddan about all those things such as multiple universes and whathaveyou but with some dirty sex thrown in" That made me laugh out loud. I've been reading some of Dan's words recently, I forgot how much I enjoy his writing. I've read his last two NaNoWriMo efforts in their entirity, devoured both in no time (one on a single, long train journey). Drew - congrats on the nice Guardian review. Foster - Drew's book available in a few days: http://www.amazon.com/Me-Mickey-James-Drew-Gummerson/dp/0224082442/ref=s... I stand in defence of Hollyoaks by the way. I've taking to slipping 'Eli's gonna get you' into conversation. Now, I'm off to do discover what a political compass quiz is, and do one. I'm assuming that facebook will be the place to start. I'll let you know how it goes. Can see myself getting into Fink a bit.

Facebook let me down. But http://www.politicalcompass.org/ says I am Libertarian Left, about where Mandela is apparantly. More extreme than I expected.

Finally someone mentioned Bale's batman voice, sounded like he'd been chainsmoking. but ledger certainly deserves a posthumous oscar nod. made the film, dark and disturbing. def not for the kids. Saw WALL-E perhaps the greatest animated film ever made. Pixar actually outdid themselves. and thats saying alot...considering its Pixar. Dark Knight, Iron Man, In Bruges, Kung Fu Panda (dreamworks best), and WALL-E. do check them out. Went to Hippie Fest down here in the states. The Cream, Badfinger, Melanie, Johnathon Edwards, The Turtles, The Animals. great concert.

Reading - Sadly misery memoirs or that type of thing, they keep getting pressed in my hand and told to read, so many I'm getting them muddled up! Not good when people ask you what you thought. Art etc, sadly I'm not yet that cultured, but I hope to be one day. Films - well I don't get out much, but my overly repetitive son is on 'Cars' and Disney's Robin Hood and Jungle Book at the mo. Jungle Book's great, best one, but it's on that much I have found myself over analysing it. I mean why is it only King Louie and the apes, (the dodgy ones), who speak like black men? Despite the bear necesaties song being written by Louis Armstrong? (don't get me started on Alladin or The Lion King). Like I said you can analyse too much. But the Jungle Book, what a dance and sing'a'long. Craig

We agree at last, Craig. Disney cartoons are fabulous! Unlike so many others Disney puts a lot of effort into its sub-titles too - which means that people all around the world can enjoy them. I was disappointed with Mulan II as the Asian character has suddenly developed an American attitude but I suspect that reflects the way the whole world is going!

Agree about Rand's wordiness and complexity. Atlas Shrugged is over 600K words. If she had packed the ideas into a simple little fable the length of Animal Farm, then it could have been used as an O Level/ GCSE text and the country may have been a better place as a result! jude "Cacoethes scribendi" http://www.judesworld.net

"http://www.politicalcompass.org/ says I am Libertarian Left, about where Mandela is apparantly. More extreme than I expected." I think most British people would end up being 'left-wing' after taking an American political survey. I did one where I ended being a bit more to the left of the spectrum than I'd consider myself in the UK but close Hillary Clinton. Mrs Thatcher is some way to the left of Hillary Clinton on economic policies.

Reading the Peter James 'Roy Grace' books, set in Brighton - and Tara Hanks' The Mmmm Girl. Just finished the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - which is magnificent. Want to see Summer Hours but it seems to have moved on from our local cinemas - the story of my life with films. Listening to 'Instant Karma' - the Amnesty International album of John Lennon covers by all sorts of people (some good, some very bad) - and The Enemy - with whom I have become obsessed. Watching loads of sport on TV and getting depressed about cricket. Ho hum.

"... a 400 page version of talking to Maddan about all those things such as multiple universes and whathaveyou but with some dirty sex thrown in" That made me laugh out loud. I've been reading some of Dan's words recently, I forgot how much I enjoy his writing. I've read his last two NaNoWriMo efforts in their entirity, devoured both in no time (one on a single, long train journey). Aw, shucks! Though I resent the implication I never talk about dirty sex - but then I finished Drew's book this morning and compared to that I might as well be a monk.

i have made a note to discuss dirty sex with you next time we meet ... and as for drew gummerson ... let's say i shall never have a chinese takeaway without thinking about a certain ... ahem ... passage x

Fish, everyone is mentioning that. And in my head it was just a plot device to get them in and out of the flat. I'm never going to be able to order Chinese takeaway at work again, am I? x

i'll never be able to go to the noodle bar with you again!

Hello… hello… I’m hand cranking the line here… I’m in a small town in Southwest Scotland – they don’t have traffic lights, the cafes shut for lunch and since someone swiped my copy of Me and Mickie James, they’re completely out of black bean sauce. They do have their own Wicker Man festival, though. They’re super keen. I’m awake because the Swedish bird next door keeps banging on the wall and singing… ~ www.fabulousmother.co.uk

that's not singing...

Reading George Orwell. 1984. not for pleasure, but for school. my hag of a teacher assigns us a six page assignment analyzing quotes. I haven't even met her and already I imagine her being burned at the stake. to be fair, it is a good book.

Pretend you're not being forced to read it. It doesn't deserve to be resented for the sake of a bad teacher. Let us know your thoughts when you've finished. Ben

Big Brother? It doesn't cross my radar, well it does in the sense that Scrubs isn't on. And it's not snobbery it just doesn't interest me. Much like sci-fi and 'magical' doesn't float my boat. I happened to be at my ex's place and she was watching Dr. Who, I thought what a load of unmitigated tosh. This is for 8 year olds! Oh the ex is into magic and fairies and the paranormal, but she's not well. She wanted me to watch Harry Potter,for crying out loud, no for screaming out loud. She was saying that a lot of adults watch it. I did watch about 10 minutes of it when it was on TV some time ago, but no, it just didn't interest me. And as for the whole Superman/Spiderman/Batman bang 'em up shoot 'em up Matrix Bruce Willis style films they make me want to retch. And as for the James Bond genre ph! I watched some of an old film and again thought what unmitigated tosh! Reading matter? It tends to be The Guardian, I don't read books anymore, or rather I haven't read one in years. Snobbery? No laziness and drunkenness - yes. It was The Bell Jar oooh, 15 years ago. I intend reading it again it has one of the finest openings in literature, I won't say in my humble opinion because I don't 'do' humble. I suspect as I get more sober I'll begin reading again and just doing stuff again. Oooh, I verbed an acronym yesterday. So off I go to the Alcohol Recovery Project to get my head examined. Ta ta!

I read 1984 at school and really liked it., at least I liked it a lot more than all the bloody Steinbeck I had to read. Took me years to come around to Steinbeck after gcse english.

It's funny - when jlb said 'I wonder how many good books are made/ruined that way?', the first thing I thought of was Of Mice and Men. Maybe we went to the same school, starbuck. Or, more likely, there's a lot of uninspiring Literature teachers out there.

Back to the music. I think the reincarnation of Take That brilliant. I like McFly and loved Busted, I think James Brown was the greatest artist of the 20th century, the king of Rock and Roll? Little Richard by a country mile. Elvis? Great until he went into the army, he made a few good records after that but that whole giant tassled sequined babygro schtick just ruins the whole image of him. Fats Domino the king of R 'n' B but then there's Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Otis Redding and that whole Stax/Atlantic/Motown thing. Aretha Franklin could put many of the soul divas in her pocket, what a voice. Only Mary J Blige comes close to keeping the candle of real soul alight. The Everly Brothers, sublime. Country music? Patsy Cline/Skeeter Davis/George Jones/Don Gibson/Brenda Lee. Classical music? Adagio for strings by Samuel Barber adagio for strings Guilaume Lekeu and too many more to mention. Oh I could go on but won't. How's that for catholic taste? Have you heard the Katy Perry no. 1 I Kissed A Girl? Crap I know but becomes crappier if you listen to the backing track, it's the fucking Glitter Band for chrissakes!!!!!!

Forgot to mention our Amy, surely the greatest singer/songwriter produced by this country - ever! I watched the mini-documentary about her last night and the conductor of the National Jazz Orchestra was talking about the first time he heard her. He immediately likened her to Billie Holliday (as did I) but he added only Billie Holliday had problems with pitch and tone, implying that our Amy is better than Billie. I YouTubed her and watched/listened to her singing Valerie acapella and it's stunning. What a voice. And what's this early Motown schtick that's going on at the moment. Charlene Spiteri singing a song that sounds like something the Miracles would have recorded, the drummer on the track even uses the same drum fill that 'Pistol Pete' used to use at Motown, Estelle sounds like a slightly off-key Mary Wells circa '63 and Solange (Beyonce's sister) doesn't even try to hide the fact that she's paying homage to early Motown.

In Scotland, my thirteen-year-old discovered my Mum’s old single of Nutbush City Limits and played it constantly (took her a while to realise you could play both sides though…). She now wants a record player for her birthday. Sadly I’ve finished reading Drew’s book which I loved (I'm going to miss those guys...) Now I’ve got to find something else to read. Best thing on TV at the moment is Dexter – extremely well plotted, macabre and witty. Anybody seen it? First season was on C4 – second is currently on SFX. p.s. Music trivia: Chick Webb, the band leader/drummer who gave Ella Fitzgerald her biggest break – had a hunchback too. ~ www.fabulousmother.co.uk

i had entertainment overload at the weekend ... at the lovely summer sundae festival ... i never thought i'd see the day but i was dancing in the rain in an emergency poncho - henry rollins was my definite favourite - but i also rather took to natty and macy gray's set was surprisingly entertaining drew and joe were lovely and the oulipo poets very good indeed i've always resisted festivals as entertainment - mud, hanging about, etc. but i think i may have been slightly converted ... am now reading liberation by the barefoot doctor! i know i can hardly believe it myself - but it was in a charity shop in bakewell ... mumble mumble

I have been admiring my sweet-peas and the big thunderstorm. I might take all my clothes off and run around the garden naked in the rain if it carries on. Or perhaps a cup of tea.

2Lou, thanks - really pleased you enjoyed the book. Summer Sundae was great, especially as it was in my home town. For the first time since I lived in Sydney I felt like I belonged somewhere. Except this time it was a tent of poets, rather than a rather shabby collection of rent boys, associated gays and a large group of South Americans. It was lovely to see fish read and she made me laugh. www.drewgummerson.co.uk

Oh and God's Own Country has now finished on Radio 4. It was a brilliant reading and I'll miss it.

Oh and last post I promise, I'm currently reading Sarah Water's The Night Watch. It's been on my shelf for ages. I was a bit put off as I loved her three Victorian books and was scared I wouldn't like this 2nd World War one as much. I shouldn't have worried. It's amazing. It has five or six brilliant characters that I love. Although I now hate her a bit for being so talented.